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The Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust says the next few months will be an "incredibly intense" time for Cardigan Castle during the final phase of its £12m restoration project.

The castle is set to reopen its doors to visitors in April.

It's been a long time coming but the finishing post is nearly in sight. We have worked so long and so hard for this. The castle will really put Cardigan on the map.

– Jann Tucker, Chair of the Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust

Extensive restoration work has been underway at Cardigan Castle since 2011. Credit: Equinox Communications

The trust has received more than £6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £4.3m from the European Regional Development Fund to restore the Grade I listed building.

Further funding has come from a Communities Asset Transfer grant with support from the Welsh Government, Cadw, Big Lottery Fund, The UK Association of Preservation Trusts, The Architectural Heritage Fund, Ceredigion County Council, Cardigan Town Council and The Prince's Regeneration Trust, and community fundraising.

Work to remove the first stanchion is already underway Credit: Castell Aberteifi

Work to remove the first of the stanchions supporting Cardigan Castle has begun.

They were erected in 1975 as a temporary support for the wall but have stayed in place since then. Organisers say that the stanchions coming down mark "the significant changes" happening at the castle.

£11m is being spent developing the 900-year-old site into a multi-functional facility for community and recreational use as well as for learning, including Welsh language, cultural, crafts, environmental and horticulture studies. It will reopen in April next year.

The stanchions were erected in 1975 as a temporary support measure Credit: ITV News

Cardigan Castle is having the first large stanchion removed after nearly 40 years.

They were erected in 1975 as a temporary support for the wall but have stayed in place since then. Organisers say that the stanchions coming down mark "the significant changes" happening at the castle.

£11m is being spent developing the 900-year-old site into a multi-functional facility for community and recreational use as well as for learning, including Welsh language, cultural, crafts, environmental and horticulture studies. It will reopen in April next year.

The Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust, which has campaigned for 14 years to save the site still needs to raise £150,000 by the end of 2014 to secure the project.

The castle is among a handful of remaining stone castles built by Welsh princes. The gardens were laid out in the early 19th century and are on Cadw’s Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. They include a number of rare specimen trees and endangered species of bat.

It's the last piece of funding for an £11 million refurbishment of the castle. Jann Tucker, chair of Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust, said: “This award fires the starting gun for what will be the most important development in the town for centuries. It is great news for the castle and the town."